Please mark your calendars! The new deadline for abstract submissions is April 15 of each year. The 2020 Call for Papers for the 24th Annual Conference "Reducing Racial and Economic Inequality" will be available March 1, 2019, with the submission deadline of April 15, 2019.

SSWR Strategic Plan

2018 – 2022

I. Strategic Direction

Vision

Social work research is critical to building an inclusive, just, and equitable society.

Mission

The Society for Social Work and Research is a catalyst for excellence in developing, implementing, and translating research that advances social work practice and social policy that improves human well-being.

Values

The Society for Social Work and Research fully endorses the core values of the social work profession as ensconced in the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics[1]: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.

Shared values:

Rigorous Research for Social Justice

High quality, rigorous research is essential for promoting a just and equitable society.

Ethical Research

Social work researchers should be held to the highest ethical standards.

Evidence-Based Practice

Social work practice must be based on the best available evidence.

Interdisciplinary Research

Collaboration of researchers across disciplines improves the quality and impact of research.

Capacity Building

Research training and mentoring is necessary throughout a social work researcher’s career.

Collaboration

Collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders (e.g., communities, policymakers, clients, and other stakeholders.) improves the quality of both research and practice.

II. Strategic Priorities

1. Quality and Excellence in Social Work Research

Strategic Aim: Support rigor, innovations, and enhance the quality of social work research.

Develop a fiscal infrastructure to continue the support of excellence in social work research.

Develop funding opportunities to support social work researchers’ engagement in research.

Advocate for increased federal funding for social work-related research.

Partner with foundations to establish funding programs or funding criteria to support innovative research through seed or pilot grants.

Increase opportunities for members to learn about cutting-edge research methodologies and new forms of rigorous dissemination.

Provide opportunities for members to develop and investigate alternative forms of rigorous scholarship and dissemination.

Objective 2: Enhance ethics in social work research.

Develop a Code of Conduct of Responsible Social Work Research.

Develop a cross-institutional training platform that supports the Code of Conduct of Responsible Social Work Research.

Objective 3: Expand the social justice focus of social work research.

Promote research about social justice at the SSWR annual Conference.

2. Build Research Capacity

Strategic Aim: Build research capacity across the career lifespan of social work scholars.

Objective 1: Increase research knowledge and skills of early career scholars.

Increase training opportunities for early career scholars on research methods, collaboration/team science, dissemination, and grant writing.

Make SSWR training more accessible using technology and multiple training platforms.

Collaborate with the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE) and Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) to develop and conduct research training and professional development activities for social work doctoral students.

Increase support for doctoral students to attend and participate in SSWR.

Expand mechanisms and opportunities for members to network, develop research agendas, consult, collaborate, and mentoring.

Objective 2: Increase career development supports for mid-career and senior scholars.

Conduct a needs assessment to identify the strengths, needs, and priorities of mid-career and senior scholars.

Develop training or skill development opportunities for mid-career and senior scholars.

Objective 3: Increase the capacity of mentors of doctoral students and early career scholars.

Institute mentor training sessions at the SSWR Conference to enhance the competencies of mentors of doctoral students and early career scholars.

Collaborate with GADE and CSWE to develop and implement strategies to enhance the mentoring skills of doctoral mentors, chairs, and advisors.

3. Member Engagement, Experiences, and Services

Strategic Aim: SSWR will intensify efforts to increase membership diversity, engage members in the association, and improve the experience and satisfaction of members.